Dove and Pigeon

Dove

Pigeons and doves constitute the bird family, Columbidae, that includes some 310 species of near passerines.

dove
See {dive}

dove
n 1: any of numerous small pigeons
2: someone who prefers negotiations to armed conflict in the
conduct of foreign relations [syn: {peacenik}] [ant: {hawk}]
3: a constellation in the southern hemisphere near Puppis and
Caelum [syn: {Columba}]
4: flesh of a pigeon suitable for roasting or braising; flesh
of a dove (young squab) may be broiled [syn: {squab}]
5: an emblem of peace

Dove \Dove\ (d[u^]v), n. [OE. dove, duve, douve, AS. d[=u]fe;
akin to OS. d[=u]ba, D. duif, OHG. t[=u]ba, G. taube, Icel.
d[=u]fa, Sw. dufva, Dan. due, Goth. d[=u]b[=o]; perh. from
the root of E. dive.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) A pigeon of the genus {Columba} and various
related genera. The species are numerous.
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Note: The domestic dove, including the varieties called
{fantails}, {tumblers}, {carrier pigeons}, etc., was
derived from the {rock pigeon} ({Columba livia}) of
Europe and Asia; the {turtledove} of Europe, celebrated
for its sweet, plaintive note, is {Columba turtur} or
{Turtur vulgaris}; the {ringdove}, the largest of
European species, is {Columba palumbus}; the {Carolina
dove}, or {Mourning dove}, is {Zenaidura macroura}; the
{sea dove} is the little auk ({Mergulus alle} or {Alle
alle}). See {Turtledove}, {Ground dove}, and {Rock
pigeon}. The dove is a symbol of peace, innocence,
gentleness, and affection; also, in art and in the
Scriptures, the typical symbol of the Holy Ghost.
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2. A word of endearment for one regarded as pure and gentle.
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O my dove, . . . let me hear thy voice. --Cant. ii.
14.
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3. a person advocating peace, compromise or conciliation
rather than war or conflict. Opposite of {hawk}.
[PJC]
{Dove tick} (Zo["o]l.), a mite ({Argas reflexus}) which
infests doves and other birds.
{Soiled dove}, a prostitute. [Slang]

Dive \Dive\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Dived}, colloq. {Dove}, a
relic of the AS. strong forms de['a]f, dofen; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Diving}.] [OE. diven, duven, AS. d?fan to sink, v. t., fr.
d?fan, v. i.; akin to Icel. d?fa, G. taufen, E. dip, deep,
and perh. to dove, n. Cf. {Dip}.]
1. To plunge into water head foremost; to thrust the body
under, or deeply into, water or other fluid.
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It is not that pearls fetch a high price because men
have dived for them. --Whately.
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Note: The colloquial form dove is common in the United States
as an imperfect tense form.
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All [the walruses] dove down with a tremendous
splash. --Dr. Hayes.
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When closely pressed it [the loon] dove . . . and
left the young bird sitting in the water. --J.
Burroughs.
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2. Fig.: To plunge or to go deeply into any subject,
question, business, etc.; to penetrate; to explore.
--South.
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Dove
In their wild state doves generally build their nests in the
clefts of rocks, but when domesticated "dove-cots" are prepared
for them (Cant. 2:14; Jer. 48:28; Isa. 60:8). The dove was
placed on the standards of the Assyrians and Babylonians in
honour, it is supposed, of Semiramis (Jer. 25:38; Vulg.,
"fierceness of the dove;" comp. Jer. 46:16; 50:16). Doves and
turtle-doves were the only birds that could be offered in
sacrifice, as they were clean according to the Mosaic law (Ge.
15:9; Lev. 5:7; 12:6; Luke 2:24). The dove was the harbinger of
peace to Noah (Gen. 8:8, 10). It is often mentioned as the
emblem of purity (Ps. 68:13). It is a symbol of the Holy Spirit
(Gen. 1:2; Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32); also of
tender and devoted affection (Cant. 1:15; 2:14). David in his
distress wished that he had the wings of a dove, that he might
fly away and be at rest (Ps. 55:6-8). There is a species of dove
found at Damascus "whose feathers, all except the wings, are
literally as yellow as gold" (68:13).

Pigeon \Pi"geon\, n. [F., fr. L. pipio a young pipping or
chirping bird, fr. pipire to peep, chirp. Cf. {Peep} to
chirp.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) Any bird of the order Columb[ae], of which
numerous species occur in nearly all parts of the world.
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Note: The common domestic pigeon, or dove, was derived from
the Old World rock pigeon or rock dove ({Columba
livia}), common in cities. It has given rise to
numerous very remarkable varieties, such as the
carrier, fantail, nun, pouter, tumbler, etc. The common
wild pigeon of the Eastern United States is the
{Mourning dove} ({Zenaida macroura}, called also
{Carolina dove}). Before the 19th century, the most
common pigeon was the passenger pigeon, but that
species is now extinct. See {Passenger pigeon}, and
{Carolina dove} under {Dove}. See, also, {Fruit
pigeon}, {Ground pigeon}, {Queen pigeon}, {Stock
pigeon}, under {Fruit}, {Ground}, etc.
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2. An unsuspected victim of sharpers; a gull. [Slang]
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{Blue pigeon} (Zo["o]l.), an Australian passerine bird
({Graucalus melanops}); -- called also {black-faced crow}.
{Green pigeon} (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of Old
World pigeons belonging to the family {Treronid[ae]}.
{Imperial pigeon} (Zo["o]l.), any one of the large Asiatic
fruit pigeons of the genus {Carpophada}.
{Pigeon berry} (Bot.), the purplish black fruit of the
pokeweed; also, the plant itself. See {Pokeweed}.
{Pigeon English} [perhaps a corruption of business English],
an extraordinary and grotesque dialect, employed in the
commercial cities of China, as the medium of communication
between foreign merchants and the Chinese. Its base is
English, with a mixture of Portuguese and Hindustani.
--Johnson's Cyc.
{Pigeon grass} (Bot.), a kind of foxtail grass ({Setaria
glauca}), of some value as fodder. The seeds are eagerly
eaten by pigeons and other birds.
{Pigeon hawk}. (Zo["o]l.)
(a) A small American falcon ({Falco columbarius}). The
adult male is dark slate-blue above, streaked with
black on the back; beneath, whitish or buff, streaked
with brown. The tail is banded.
(b) The American sharp-shinned hawk ({Accipiter velox} or
{Accipiter fuscus}).
{Pigeon hole}.
(a) A hole for pigeons to enter a pigeon house.
(b) See {Pigeonhole}.
(c) pl. An old English game, in which balls were rolled
through little arches. --Halliwell.
{Pigeon house}, a dovecote.
{Pigeon pea} (Bot.), the seed of {Cajanus Indicus}; a kind of
pulse used for food in the East and West Indies; also, the
plant itself.
{Pigeon plum} (Bot.), the edible drupes of two West African
species of {Chrysobalanus} ({Chrysobalanus ellipticus} and
{Chrysobalanus luteus}).
{Pigeon tremex}. (Zo["o]l.) See under {Tremex}.
{Pigeon wood} (Bot.), a name in the West Indies for the wood
of several very different kinds of trees, species of
{Dipholis}, {Diospyros}, and {Coccoloba}.
{Pigeon woodpecker} (Zo["o]l.), the flicker.
{Prairie pigeon}. (Zo["o]l.)
(a) The upland plover.
(b) The golden plover. [Local, U.S.]
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Pigeon
Pigeons are mentioned as among the offerings which, by divine
appointment, Abram presented unto the Lord (Gen. 15:9). They
were afterwards enumerated among the sin-offerings (Lev. 1:14;
12:6), and the law provided that those who could not offer a
lamb might offer two young pigeons (5:7; comp. Luke 2:24). (See {DOVE}.)